Dental bridgework



(No Model.) E. G. SMITH.

DENTAL BRIDGE WORK.

N0. 538,023. Patented Jan. 22, 1895.

WW? I WMAMEQWK MMTW m T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD SMITH, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

DENTAL BRIDGEWORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,023, dated January 22,1895.

Application filed March 26, 1894;.

To all whom, it may concern-r Be it known that I, EDWARD G. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of dental practice called bridge work, and consists in the method of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of two anchor or pier teeth, with one of my improved bridges and its attached artificial teeth, connected thereto, viewed from the inside of the mouth, and Fig. 2 is a similar view from the outside of the mouth. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the two pier or anchor teeth with the bridge removed, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bridge and its attached artificial teeth removed. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the metal portion of the bridge detached, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the two artificial teeth belonging to the bridge, detached. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on the line w a: of Fig. 1.

In that class of dentistry known as bridging, two or more sound teeth are taken as anchor or pier teeth, and a metal bridge attached by its ends to the sound teeth, and the artificial teeth attached to the metal bridge between the pier or anchor teeth.

In practicing my invention, the anchor or pier teeth being selected, one of them, which is usually a molar A, (see Fig. 3,) has a small channel a cut into its upper surface, preferably parallel With the jaw and along the line of the enamel union, or in the cavity between the cusps o The other anchor tooth B, which in the illustration is one of the canines, or cuspids, has formed upon it a slight shoulder 19, (see Fig. 3,) to support a band D, preferably of gold, andprevent its being crowded down too far on the root by the pressure of mastication. The other anchor tooth A is likewise provided with a metal band D preferably of gold, and with a cross bar or wire 01' connecting the sides of the Serial No. 506,052. (No model.)

band and fitting down into the channel a, as shown. By this means the band is supported firmly in place upon the tooth.

The two bands D D are connected by a bar or rod D as shown in Fig. 5, and to which the artificial teeth E E are secured by rubber or other plate 6'. This plate 6 is formed to fill the space betweenthe upper surface of the maxillary ridge between the anchor or pier teeth and slightly overlap it in the inner or lingual side, as shown at o to replace the maxillary ridge which has shrunken by the absorption of the process after the extraction of the natural teeth. This replacing of the lingual surface to its original size is an important feature of my invention, as it restores completely the articulation.

Another important advantage gained b forming the plate e, so as to inclasp the maxillary surface F is the fact, that the masticating pressure is thereby borne by the jaw bones and the flesh covering them, and not wholly by the pier teeth and bridge plate.

With my simple arrangement, a mere wire of sufficient strength to support the artificial teeth is all that is required to form the metal portion D of the bridge, the strains, as before stated, being borne very largely by the plate 6 which presses upon a sufficient surface of the maxillary ridge between the anchor or pier teeth.

After the bridge work is in place and thev bands cemented on, the space surrounding the cross bar 01' inside of the band D is filled or plugged, and if preferred the tooth A and its attached band may be further protected by a gold cap or'cup, butthis is not a necessity, as the ordinary filling is sufficient for all practical purposes.

The plate 6' will not extend beyond the hard portion of the maxillary ridge, so that it will not comein contact with the soft portion of the palate and lingual or buccal surfaces. I

The maxillary ridge from which the teeth have been extracted becomes sufiiciently hard to enable the plate e to be fitted so closely thereon that animal or vegetable substance will not be liable to work in beneath the saddle of the plate.

Lodgments under the bridge will not under thus arranged requires no more care than for natural teeth. It restores perfectly the articulation, as the contour of the maxillary ridge and the teeth can be perfectly restored to their original form. The work can be done at a comparatively small expense exceeding but slightly the cost of ordinary plate work. There being no necessity togrind or cut the teeth to an extent sufficient to destroy the nerves or kill the pier or anchor teeth, their usefulness as teeth are not destroyed.

V The saddle portion of the plate 6 or the portion coming in contact with the flesh may be lined with porcelain, gold, or any other substance differing in texture from the remainder of the plate, if preferred.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- In artificial denture, a bridge comprising bands inclosing the anchor or pier teeth and connected by a bridge or bar to support the artificial teeth, said bands having a cross bar connecting their sides through a transverse cavity formed between the cusps of the anchor or pier teeth, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD e. SMITH.

Witnesses:

O. N. WoonWARD, H. S. WEBSTER. 

